Do all Wal-Marts have a terrible fishing selection?

by **AdamS** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:05 pm

I used to like going to Wal-Mart and checking out their lures and other fishing stuff. They had maybe 2 and a half isles of stuff/ That was 3,4 maybe 5 years ago though. Now we are down to barely one isle. There selection has gotten worse and worse and now it seems as if they are trying to slowly delete the entire section from their store. Is this happening at all Wal-Marts or does my Wal-Mart just suck.

by **MegaBeth194** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:13 pm

Supply and demand. They were obviously not gaining enough from their previous selection of fishing supplies, so they cleared it out for something that nets more. You should try going to a store that specializes in sporting goods, Wal-Mart shouldn't have a monopoly on EVERYTHING.

by **NathanS843** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:26 pm

You have noticed what has been a slow trend at Wal-Mart, the downsizing of it's outdoors/sporting goods department and the expansion of their electronics department. I remember too when they had a large selection of fishing tackle. They figured that DVD's and video games carry more profit than hooks and sinkers. The other bad thing that goes along with this is Wal-Mart has down graded their involvement with FLW which it used to be a big time sponsor from when FLW started. They will be more involved with the fantasy fishing than the actual tournament operations and sponsorship. I'm kind of glad they are getting out of professional angling because as an angler I would be insulted that they would sponsor FLW at the same time shrinking it's tackle department. I grew up in Texas with Target and I remember when Target had a decent fishing section as well as guns. Go to Target now and the fishing tackle they carry is for kids. You can't blame all this on Wal-Mart though with the oncoming of Bass Pro Shops, Dick's, and Cabelas they can't compete with those full on tackle stores. I remember when I was a kid Bass Pro was a catalog only with 1 store in Springfield, MO and now they have about 60 stores nationwide. I get most of my stuff online now anyway but would love to find a mom and pop tackle shop to give my business to. So it's not just your Wal-Marts it's happening to all of them and I read where some are axing the fishing department all together.

by **jandismommie035** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:02 pm

The Wal-Mart by me actually just expanded their fishing section. They now have a lot better selection then what they did before. The one by you must not of been saleing much fishing stuff and that is why they down sized their supplies.

by **Constance498** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:26 pm

Well, the wal-mart here isn't that great either. But I just started fishing last year so I haven't a clue what it used to be like.
Also like you said they are down sizing, but maybe they are getting rid of things that they got complaints on. But it's not like I tried much of the things there. A good place to go is Canadian Tire. It's where I got my fishing rod, which might I add, has been a good investment.

by **UltimateFishingTackle** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:11 pm

No, some of them actually have some decent tackle. I guess it all depends on which location that you go to. I live in San Diego and we have a couple of Wal-Mart the has pretty nice lure selections.

http://www.ultimatefishingtackle.com

by **mg081** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:41 pm

I've noticed that trend too, but I live in an area with poor fishing prospects. I have been happy to discover that their fishing section is highly regionalized. Most stores carry a small inventory of cheap, basic tackle for local fisheries but some have good fly selections or saltwater tackle if that's what's in demand. They aren't an "everything for everyone" store, they are what they are which is basic needs, cheap and efficient. If you're in Wal-Mart and need a spool of line or pack of hooks they have it. If you're going on a trip or are in search of specialized tackle you are looking in the wrong store. If they tried to compete with Bass Pro shops for selection, and then took that approach to every department, their stores would be too large to be efficient. They strike that balance and adjust it to seasonal trends and market demand.

by **Spud182** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:32 pm

Well I would rather go to a tackle shop rather than a wal-mart personally but I'm not American so I don't see wal-mart often (I'm English!!!!). But surely you get better tackle. I understand that you're just checking the things out etc. The demand was obviously low the the prices dropped and then people saw !!BARGAINS!! some half decent tackle for about half the price in tackle shops. A day later 'Bob, have you gone down to wal-mart lately?''No Andy why?''Just the fact that their prices have dropped and it's half decent tackle for half the price in tackle shop!''what are we doing here then!?' So that story gets around and the things go simple as that.

-spud

by **Ryan818** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:38 pm

There could be less out now because they put alot awaying in the fall because of winter but i have noticed too that the walmart i live close to had like 2 isles like 3 years ago and is down to half an isle.

by **andrewa** on Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:23 pm

socal wal mart have preety good fishing section i guess it is because of there is a lot of fisherman in southern califonria

Do all Wal-Marts have a terrible fishing selection?